Victorian Railways C class (diesel)

{{Short description|Class of diesel locomotives used in Australia}}

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = Victorian Railways C class

| powertype = Diesel-electric

| image = Southern Shorthaul Railroad Locomotive C504.jpg

| alt =

| caption = C504 passing through Sunshine, Victoria in April 2024

| builder = Clyde Engineering, Rosewater

| ordernumber =

| serialnumber =

| buildmodel = EMD GT26CW

| builddate = 1977-1978

| totalproduction = 10

| rebuilder =

| rebuilddate =

| numberrebuilt =

| aarwheels = C-C

| uicclass = Co′Co'

| Britishclass = Co-Co

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1435mm}}

| trucks =

| bogies =

| wheeldiameter =

| trailingdiameter =

| minimumcurve =

| wheelbase =

| length = {{convert|20.73|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| width =

| height =

| axleload =

| weightondrivers =

| locoweight = {{convert|135|t}}

| fueltype = Diesel

| fuelcap = {{convert|10130|L|impgal USgal|abbr=on}}

| lubecap =

| coolantcap =

| watercap =

| sandcap =

| powersupply =

| consumption =

| watercons =

| rpmrange =

| primemover = EMD 16-645E3

| enginetype = V16 diesel engine

| aspiration = Turbocharged

| displacement =

| alternator = EMD AR-10

| generator =

| tractionmotors = EMD D77/78 DC, 6 of

| headendpower =

| cylindercount = 16

| cylindersize = {{convert|645|in3|cm3|abbr=on}}

| transmission =

| multipleworking =

| maxspeed = {{convert|133|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}

| poweroutput = {{convert|2237|kW|hp|abbr=on}}

| tractiveeffort =

| factorofadhesion =

| trainheating =

| locobrakes = Air brakes

| locobrakeforce =

| trainbrakes = Air brakes

| safety =

| operator = Victorian Railways

| operatorclass = C

| powerclass =

| numinclass = 10

| fleetnumbers = C501-C510

| officialname =

| nicknames =

| axleloadclass =

| locale = Southern Australia

| deliverydate = 1977-78

| firstrundate = 14 May 1977

| lastrundate = 11 July 1978

| retiredate =

| withdrawndate =

| preservedunits = C501

| restoredate =

| scrapdate =

| currentowner = Southern Shorthaul Railroad
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre

| disposition = 10 operational

}}

The C Class are a class of diesel locomotive built by Clyde Engineering, Rosewater for the Victorian Railways in 1977–1978.

History

The C class were purchased by the Victorian Railways for heavy freight haulage. They are a variant of the WAGR L class (itself an Australianised EMD SD40) fitted with safety cabs. Initially, the first four were placed on the North East line to haul services from Melbourne to Albury while the latter six were put on the broad gauge to haul services on the Serviceton line. Following upgrades to the infrastructure, they were also able to operate on the Ballarat to Geelong line and from January 1982 through to Adelaide with the standard gauge units transferred to the broad gauge.{{cite book|last=Oberg|first=Leon|title=Locomotives of Australia 1850s - 1980s|year=1984|publisher=Reed Books|location=Frenchs Forest|isbn=0-730100-05-7|page=288}}

On 3 August 1979, engines C505 and 506 ran through to Adelaide for the first time as part of a trial of through-running, in place of the previous practice involving changing locomotives at the border. C505 led on the westbound trip with a trailing load of 1,755 tonnes and 506 led on the eastbound with 1,804 tonnes. A number of stop-and-start tests were undertaken on the Adelaide hills line to test the engines' ability to handle heavy loads, and running times were tested particularly between Tailem Bend and Mile End. New radio communication systems were also trialled between the driver and guard using fixed units in lieu of the earlier portable units. The trial was deemed a success, with through-running becoming a regular feature from 12 November. At the time a number of C Class engines were running on the standard gauge between Melbourne and Albury, and it was intended to recall these for broad gauge interstate work and have them replaced by locomotives from Australian National Railways.Network, Railways of Australia, October 1979, Vol.16 No.8 pp. 13–14

In September 1988, two were transferred back to the standard gauge and began to operate services through to Sydney."C Class" Railway Digest October 1988 page 378"C Class" Railway Digest November 1988 page 406

Following the Melbourne-Adelaide railway being closed for gauge conversion, all remaining broad gauge units were converted to standard gauge and operated services from Melbourne to Parkes until the converted line reopened in July 1995. All were transferred by V/Line to National Rail in June 1995.[http://www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/cdie.html C Class diesel electric locomotives] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204033519/http://www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/cdie.html |date=4 December 2007 }} Mark Bau's VR website

Following the delivery of National Rail's NR class locomotives, the C class were put into storage at Junee Locomotive Depot in 1997 before being moved to Islington Railway Workshops, Adelaide.{{cite magazine|date=April 2000|title=The Dash 9 in Australia: National Rail's NR class|author=Antony Fitzgerald|magazine=Australian Model Railway Magazine|page=27}}Railway Digest October 1998 page 41 Unlike the other locomotives National Rail initially used, ownership of the C class passed to National Rail."One Nation - A retrospective and perspective" Railway Digest August 1997 page 21 In August 1999 two were repainted in National Rail livery and returned to service as Melbourne shunters.Railway Digest October 1999 page 4

C501 was acquired by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre and the other nine went to Allco Rail, with two leased to Pacific National and seven to Silverton Rail as the Cs class. Following the collapse of Allco Finance three were sold to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia and six to Greentrains in January 2008 with all resuming their original identities.[http://www.railpage.com.au/locos/class/21/ C Class (C501 - C510)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131010028/http://www.railpage.com.au/locos/class/21/ |date=31 January 2014 }} Railpage[http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=locomotives&class=C&orgstate=V&type=Diesel-Electric C Class] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619131048/http://www.vicsig.net/index.php?page=locomotives&class=C&orgstate=V&type=Diesel-Electric |date=19 June 2004 }} Vicsig"The 80 Class in Private Operation" Motive Power issue 80 March 2012 page 33

In April 2016, the six Greentrains units were sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad.[http://www.engenco.com.au/fileadmin/docs/asx/FY_2016/2016_04_28_ASX_EGN_Disposal_of_Greentrains_Rollingstock.pdf Disposal of Greentrains rollingstock] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218121638/http://www.engenco.com.au/fileadmin/docs/asx/FY_2016/2016_04_28_ASX_EGN_Disposal_of_Greentrains_Rollingstock.pdf |date=18 February 2017 }} Engenco 28 April 2016"Greentrans rollingstock sold to Holdco Holdings" Railway Digest June 2016 page 6 Having been in store at South Dynon Locomotive Depot, all were taken to the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park & Railway with the last returned to service in August 2016."SSR Report" Motive Power issue 107 September 2016 page 27 As of February 2024, all 10 class members are operational with C502 - C510 inclusive owned by SSR as of January 2025.